While we are on this interesting topic, I also have to wonder what seacoast batteries sounded like. Hubby and I just revisited Fort Zachary Taylor. Those Columbiads and Rodmans are enormous. One really has to wonder at the sound they made blasting away at ships at sea. I also can't figure out how the artillerists ever lifted the ammunition up into the cannon.

Fort Taylor has a mortar that is gigantic. Would a mortar sound louder or less loud than those other guns?